Weft selecting mechanism for weaving machine



Aprl28, 1959 .1. FISHER Erm. 2,884,014 WEFT SELECTING ME'CHANISM'FQR WEAvING MACHINE.

Filed'ma 29. 195e;- y 1e sheets-sheet 1 lill - muy J. FISHER ETAL 2,884,014 v wEFT SELECTING MEHANIsM FOR wEAvING MACHINE:

Filed may 29, 195e April 2s, 1959 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JaH/v F/SHEE. /v/cHo/.As f? DARASH l BY j; f P l f l 1 Arron/Veys April 28., 1959 J. 'Fiel-IER .Er AL l 2,884,014

wEFT sELEcTmG MECHANISM Foa wEAvING MACHINE Filed may 29,' 195e v 1s sheets-sheet s IN VEN TOR` JOHN FIS/IEE NICHOLAS l? .D RHS/ April 28, 1959 .1. FISHER ET AL -WEFT SELECTING MECHANISM FOR WEAVING MACHINE Filed May'ze, 1956 1e sheets-sheet e IN VENT0R5- JOHN FISHER.

/V (WOL/95 ,0. DHRHSH April 2, 1959 .n.FlslV-lE/R ETAI.v

WEFT SELECTING MECHANISM FOR WEAVING MACHINE Filed May 29; 1956 l '16 Sheets-Sheet '7 ,4g-ronny;

wE'FT SELECTING MECHANISM FOR wEAvING MACHINE 'Filed May 2 9, 1956 Y April 28, -1959V J. FISHER VETAL 16 Shee'bsfSheet 8 Aprilzs, 1959 L FISHER HAL 2,884,014

WEFT SELECTING MECHANISM FOR WEAVING MACHINE Filed May 29, 195e 16 sheets-sheet 9 I N VEN TORS JOHN F/SHEB OLAS RD @AJH BY /vlcH d l ,n

M M f J ,QTroN/sjs April Z8, 1959 1. FISHER ETAL' 2,884,014

WEF'Ty SELECTING MEQHANISM FOR WEAVING MACHINE Filed may 29, 195e 1e sheets-sheet 1o INVENTORS JoH/v F/JHER /v/cHoL/rs R mens Byz ,r z l April 28, 1959 L J. FISHER ETAL 2,884,014

WEFT SELECTING MECHANISM FOR WEAVING MACHINE Filed May 29,` 1956 y 16v Sheets-Sheet 11 Arr-02N J. FISHER ET AL April z8, 1959 WEFT SELECTING MECHANISM FOR WEAVING MACHINE 16 Sheet-Sheet 12 INVENTORS Filed May 29, 1956 JOHN F75/IER [sa l las April 28, 1959 FISHER ET AL WEF'T SELECTING MECHANISM FOR WEAVING MACHINE 16 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed May 29, 1956 m Nrw if me 4 MD u msn@ H5 /r A NL n, H0 w M M @Mm Y T B WEFT SELECTING MECHANISM FOR WEAVING MACHINE Filed may 29,' 195e 28, 1959 J. FlsHER lET Al.

16 Sheets-Sheet 15 JOHN FISHER /Y/CHOL/IS l April 28, 1959 J. FlsHl-:R ETAL' 2,884,014

w'EFT SELECTING MECHANISM FOR wEAvING MACHINE Filed may 29, 1956 1s sheets-sheet 1e INVENToR v Jo//N F15/IEE /v/c//ams f? msfl fraz/Veys nited States WEFT SELECTING MECHANISM FOR WEAVING MACHINE Application May 29, 1956, serial No. 588,060

39 claims. (01.139-125) This invention relates to a Weaving machine and more particularly to a filling or-weft thread selecting mechanism for a Weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type.

An object of the inventionis to provide in a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type improved and novel filling or weft thread selecting mechanism such that weft or filling threads of various colors or types can be selectively fed to and gripped by the shuttles and carried thereby through the shed to produce in the woven material predetermined designs or patterns.

Another object is to provide in a Weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type weft thread selecting mechanism such that the weaving machine can be operated at efficient high speeds and will ,accurately produce the desired predetermined patterns or designs in the woven fabrics.

A further object is to provide in a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type a weft thread selecting mechanism such as previously referred to and which mechanism is of such character that the Weaving machine can be selectively employed to produce fabrics with or without designs or varying weft thread areas, thereby giving the machine great versatility as to the fabrics it is capable of weaving.

A further object is to provide a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type having a weft thread selecting mechanism such that the machine has versatility in producing various types of fabric inasmuch as the weft or filling threads may be of a single color or type taken from a single package; or they may alternate as to color and type and be taken from two packages, or they may be formed of two colorsl or types taken from two packages and arranged in various desired orders or sequences, or they may consist of three or more different colors or types arranged in a consecutive and repetitious fashion, or they may consist of three or more colors or types arranged in a selective, non-consecutive fashion.

Further and additional objects and advantages of the invention not hereinbefore specified will become more apparent hereinafter during the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention which is to follow and which embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and wherein,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a Weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type having therein a filling or weft thread selecting mechanism embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a fragmentary plan View of the weaving machine shown in Fig. 1 and discloses the left-hand or picking side of the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, Sheet 3, is an end elevation view of the weaving machine taken approximately along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and with certain parts shown in section.

Fig. 4, Sheet 4, is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section through the weaving machine and is taken approximately along lines 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the'arrows.

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2,884,014 Patented Apr. 28, 19,59

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Fig. 5, Sheet 5, is a developed view, partlyin section.,

and partly in elevation, and shows the gearing from the main drive shaft of the weaving machine to across shaft.

through the indexer box and is taken substantially-alongu line 7 7' of Fig. 6 looking in the direction ofthe arrows.-l

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view througlrthe'- indexer box and is taken along line 8 8 of Pig, 7 looking in the direction of the arrows but'turnedf90" Iclock'-4 wise from normal horizontal position.

Fig. 9, Sheet 5, is a longitudinal vertical sectionalviewA through the indexer box and is taken substantially along line 9 9 of Fig. 7 looking in the direction of the` arrows.l`

Pig. l0, Sheet l, is a transverse vertical sectionalview similar to Fig. 8 but with the indexer box shown in normal horizontal position and showingvamodified arrangement of locking mechanism for the index bar of the indexer.

box; said Fig. l0 being taken substantially along line itl-10 of Fig. 11 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 11 is a partial sectional and partial plan view, the.

section being taken substantially on line 11-11 of Fig. 10 looking in the direction of .the arrows,V a portion ofthe` cover being broken away.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through the indexer box substantially Online 12-12 of Fig. 10 looking in the direction of the arrows.

`Fig. 13, Sheet 7, is a plan view of the feederbox, ytensioner, iilling detector mechanismsused in theweaving machine and forming part of the weft threadA selecting.

arrangement.

Fig. 14 is a side view of the feeder box mechanism shown in Fig. 1.3, partly in elevation and partially in section, and shows a filling thread feeding and gripper assembly in index position prior to-moving horizontally and longitudinally to transfer and pick-up. positions.

Fig. 15, Sheet 4, is a fragmentary view` similar to a portion of Fig. 14, partly in section and partly in side eleva-I tion and shows the filling thread feeding and'gripper. assembly in transfer to shuttle position.

Fig. 16, Sheet 4, is a fragmentary View similar to Figs. 14 and l5, and shows the filling thread feeding and gripper assembly in pick-up position.

Fig. 17, Sheet 8, is a verticalsectional view through the feeder box and the lock or restraining membersgfor the inactive filling thread feeding and gripperl assemblies and is taken along line 17--17 of Fig. 13 looking in the, direction of the arrows.

Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional viewftaken substantially on line 18-18 of Fig. 14 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 19, Sheet 9, is an end view of the feeder box taken approximately from line 19-19 of Fig. 14 looking inthe direction of the arrows and showing also the weft thread detector feeler.

Fig. 20, Sheet 8, is a sectional view showing thel drive from the upper cam shaft to the filling thread feeding and gripper assembly that is currently in position to be moved llongitudinally in a feeding direction.

Fig. 2l is a detail plan view of the feeder arm andis taken approximately from line 21-21 of Fig. 20 looking in the direction of the arrows and shows a safety release device mounted on said arm. Y

Fig. 22, Sheet 9, is a fragmentary plan view of that end of the shuttle feeder mechanism adjacent to the thread tensioners and illustratesthe latter.

Fig..23 is a side elevationalview of the thread tensioner mechanism and the drive thereto which embodies a safety release: all four of the tensioning rods or needles of the tensioning mechanism being shown by full lines in raised position, with one of the same also being indicated in broken lines in the lowered position it occupies while its filling thread is being carried through the shed by the shuttle.

Fig. 24, Sheet 10, is an elevational view of the thread tensioner mechanism looking at the same from a position 90` removed from that in Fig. 23.

Figs. 25 and 26, Sheet 9, are detail horizontal sectional views taken respectively along lines 25-25 and 26-26 of Fig. 24 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 26 illustrating the relationship of the parts when the tensioning arm or lever and the parts operatively connected -to the free end thereof have moved downwardly from the .plane of line 25-25 to the plane of line 26-26 Fig. 27, Sheet 10, is a detached view partly in section and showing the shoe on the lower end of one of the thread tensioner rods, said rod in this view being arranged horizontally although in the machine it extends vertically.

' Fig. 28 is an end elevational view of the drive for the thread tensioner and thread brake mechanisms.

Fig. 29 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view taken along line 29-29 of Fig. 28 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the cams for driving the thread tensioner andthread brake mechanisms.

Fig. 30 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 30-30 of Fig. 28 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the Cam followers for actuating the thread tensioner arm shown in Fig. 23.

Fig. 31, Sheet 11, is a front view mostly in elevation of mechanism from that previously shown. i Fig. 32 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 32-32 of Fig. 31 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 33 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 33--33 of Fig. 3l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 34 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 34-34 of Fig. 32 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 35, Sheet 12, is a plan view of the brake and drag mechanisms for the weft threads.

Fig. 36 is an end view of the brake and drag mechanisms shown in Fig. 35.

Fig. 37, Sheet 13, is an irregular sectional View taken approximately on the planes of and along line 37-37 of Fig. 36 looking in the direction of the arrows.

r. left-hand side of Fig. 36.

Fig. 39 is a partial sectional view with certain parts omitted and is taken substantially along line 39-39 of Fig. 38 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 40 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 411-40 of Fig. 39 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 41, Sheet 14, is a view partially in section and partially in elevation illustrating the drive to the movable stop for the transfer position of the feeder.

Fig. 42, Sheet 15, is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 2 but on a larger scale.

Fig. 43, Sheet 14, is an isometric view on a larger scale of the indexing cam.

Fig. 44, Sheet 16, is a detached partial side elevational and partial vertical sectional view of the pick back safety device.

Fig. 45 is ak plan view of the pick back safety device with the control shaft therefor shown in section, and

Fig. 46 is a partial sectional and partial elevational view of the pick back safety device taken looking from a location 90 from that of Fig. 44.

ln Fig. 1 there is illustrated in front elevation a gripper shuttle type weaving machine ir which the present invention is embodied. The weaving machine illustrated cornprises a supporting frame which includes a pair of side plates 50 and 51 secured to cross members, one of which is indicated at 52. The roll of cloth or fabric woven by the machine is indicated at 53 as wound upon the cloth beam 54. As is usual in this type of weaving machine it is provided with heddle frames 55 carrying heddles while the mechanism for actuating the heddles to form the shed is enclosed in the housing 56 as will be understood in the art.

The Weaving machine has a main drive motor 57 which drives the main shaft 58 through a suitable drive such as a belt or chain 59. The main shaft 58 is provided with a hand wheel 60 and an automatically operating clutch and brake mechanism is enclosed within the housing 61 and functions in conjunction with mechanism causing rapid stoppage of the operating parts of the weaving machine in case of thread breakage or the breakage of some operative part of the machine all as will be known to those skilled in the weaving machine art.

At the left of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1, there is a picker box 62 while at the right of the machine is the receiving box 63. One of a multiplicity of spools or packages for the weft or filling threads is indicated at 64, but as shown in Fig. 2 there are four such packages or spools 64 in the present embodiment.

Only a brief summary of a weaving machine of the grip shuttle type need be set forth herein, inasmuch as the general features of such a machine are known by those skilled in the art and are described in such United States patents as Rossman, No. 2,099,627, Rusnov, No. 2,538,630, Farrwaller, No. 2,528,798 and Darash Nos. 2,654,397 and 2,660,201.

-It will be understood that the weaving machine shown in Fig. l includes a warp beam which has wound upon it the warp threads. These threads pass over a whip roll and through a drop wire detector mechanism and the heddles of the heddle frames 55. The Warp threads then pass from the heddles through a beat up reed and after leaving the reed the warp threads with the weft threads, later to be referred to, woven therein form the woven cloth C and the cloth passes over and around suitable take-up rolls and is wound upon the cloth beam 54 as indicated at 53. The reed is fastened to a lay bar which is operatively associated also with shuttle guides. 'l'he lay bar and shuttle guides are carried by a member or arm which in turn is carried and actuated by a lay bar shaft such that the shuttle guides enter the shed at the proper time for the tiring therethrough of the successive shuttles and then leave the shed after the shuttles have been received in the receiving box 63 while the reed acts to beat up the weft threads carried through the shed by the shuttles. The shed is formed by the heddles in the heddle frames acting to raise certain of the warp threads and lower others thereof with the mechanism for actuating the heddles being in the housing 56 for the shedding mechanism as previously referred to. The weft threads are carried from the weft thread supply 64 through the shed by the shuttles which grip the weft threads and are red from a picking mechanism in the picking box 62 to the receiving box 63.

It is not believed to be necessary to explain in greater detail the general elements of the weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type or their method of operation since the same are well known in the art and are described in the patents hereinbefore referred to.

Insofar as the firing of the individual shuttles in succession through the shed, the operation of the heddles to form the shed, the beating up of the weft threads and the return of the shuttles from the receiving box to the picking side of the machine are concerned, the weaving machine may be considered as conventional for the purposes of this description.

The present invention contemplates the provision of mechanism for selectively and in predetermined arrangement feeding weft threads from a multiplicity ofzystationary weft packages or spools to be transferred to and gripped by the successive shuttles before they are fired and thus to produce in the Woven cloth or fabric predetermined designs or arrangements of weft threads.

The weft threads may be of different types or of different colors as desired, although of course a weaving machine equipped with the weft thread selectingmechanism embodying the present invention can be utilized for weft threads of the same typeV or color if it is so desired and this is advantageous in that it would produce an averaging of the weft threads to compensate for slight variations in thread thickness or color shade. may be instances where it is desirable that the weft threads for a portion of the fabric all be of one type or one color and the selecting mechanism of the present invention is such as will take care of the situation just referred to. Consequently the weft Iselecting mechanism embodying the invention is Versatile in that it is. universal in its adaptation for the weaving of variousr types offabric.

The weft selecting mechanism embodying theinvention includes an indexer mechanism which is automatically indexed to control the selective feeding of the various weft threads from the packages to the shuttles in accordance With the particular design to be woven in the cloth.

The mechanism also includes arrangements for selectively tensioning the weft threads and for selectively operating drag and brake elements to function on the weft threads in conformity with the order in which the threads are fed and transferred tothe shuttles.

In addition, the mechanism includes a common detector means for all of the weft threads but which means only detects one thread at a time, i.e., the particular weft thread that is being gripped and carried through the shed by the shuttle. The detector referred to will be understood as functioning for the purpose of instantly and automatically stopping the operation of the weaving machine should the particular thread that is being tired through the shed be improperly fed or becomes broken before its gripping shuttle has reached the receiving box or for some other cause the weft thread is not present to be contacted by the detector.

Referring now to Fig. 2 which is a plan view of the picking end of the Weaving machine at which the weft selecting mechanism of the present invention is located, the indexer is indicated at l and is operatively connected to the indexible feeder box F. The weft or filing thread tensioner means is indicated at T and the drag and brake mechanism at B. The pattern or selecting mechanism is indicated at P while the picking box and the stationary packages or spools of the weft threads have been previously designated, respectively, by the reference numerals 62 and 64. The weft detector mechanism is indicated at D.

It will be understood that the elements I, F, D, T, B and P, as Well as the picking mechanism in the picking box 62 are all driven from the main drive shaft 58 shown in Figs. l and 5.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the main drive shaft 58 has xed thereto a miter gear 65 which constantly meshes with a miter gear 66 iixed on a cross shaft 67 perpendicular to the main drive shaft 58 and rotatably supported in suitable bearings in the frame of the weaving machine.

Indexer The shaft 67 has fixed thereto a spur gear 68 that constantly meshes with an idler gear 69 suitably-supported in the machine and constantly meshing With a spur-gear 70 that is fixed on the horizontally extending caml carrying shaft 71 of the indexer, see Figs. 5 and 7 Thevshaft 71 is rotatably supported in suitable bearingscarried by the housing or box of the indexer I.

The indexing cam 72 is carried by the shaft 71 and is freely rotatable on said shaft. The indexing; cam 72 Also there` in cross section is of the configuration shown in Fig.. 8 and at its right-hand end as viewed in Fig. 7 it is provided with a counterbore 73 A hardened clutch plate member 74 is secured to the indexing cam 72 at the inner end of the counterbore 73. A clutch member 75 is provided with a sleeve portion that is splined on a reduced portion of the shaft 71 so that said member can move axially of the shaft but will rotate therewith.

The clutch members 74 and 75 are provided with interengaging clutch teeth and in effect constitute a single tooth Iclutch. However, in order that thel clutch can `sustain the torque load said clutch members 74 and 75 are each provided with more than one clutch tooth. Also the clutch members preferably are each provided with diametrically opposed arcuate series of clutchv teeth with the number of teeth in onel of the series on each clutch member differing from the number of teeth in the other series thereon.

The purpose of the arrangement just referred to is so that the full and proper engagement of the clutch members will only take place when the parts are in the same predetermined relationship to one another and hence the indexing cam 72 will be correctly disposed relative to the parts with which it cooperates.

The clutch member 75 is constantly urged toward the clutch member 74 under spring load by means of the coil spring 77 that surrounds the sleeve or hub of the clutch member 75 and at one end abuts against said clutch member and at its opposite end yabuts against a collar 78 secured to the shaft 71.

It will be seen that when the shaft 71 is being rotatably driven and when the teeth 76 of the clutch members 74 and 75 are engaged correctly that the indexing cam 72 will rotate with the shaft 71.

The indexing cam 72 Aadjacent the right-hand end thereof as viewed in Fig. 7 and Within the counterbore 73 slidably mounts a spring-pressed plunger 79 which in its most inward spring pressed position has its inner end slightly spaced from the surface of a plunger engaging element secured to the flange of the clutch member and having a surface area so dimensioned that it can engage the inner end of the plunger only during a predetermined angular portion of each complete rotation of the indexing cam 72. The plunger 79 is part of a safety arrangement such that should the rotation of the indexing cam 72 be stopped during said predetermined angular portion of its rotation the clutch teeth 76 will ride out of engagement and the clutch member 75 will move to the right, as viewed in Fig. 7, against the action of the spring 77, and then said plunger 79 would be moved by the element 80 toward the right 'against the action of its spring and an arm 81 secured to the right-hand end of the plunger 79 would actuate a slidable pin member 82 carried by the housing of the indexer I, see Fig. 9.

The slidable pin member 82 is operatively connected with suitable mechanism to actuate, when it is moved by the arm 81, the master stop rod 81a (see Figs. 2 and 3) of the weaving machine to disengage the main clutch and actuate the brake mechanism contained in lthe housing 61 to stop the main shaft 5S as will be Well understood.

Referring to Fig. 42 (Sheet 15), it Will be seen that the indexing cam 72 is provided with a plurality of axially spaced peripheral grooves, there being four such grooves illustrated in the present embodiment, although it will be understood that the number of grooves may vary depending upon the number of weft threads of different type or color which the machine is capable of selectively picking through the shed.

The grooves referred to extend partially around the periphery of the indexing cam 72 and each has a narrow` straight Walled portion 83 adjacent one of its ends and av Wide straight Walled portion 84 adjacent its opposite end. The lengths of the groove portions 83 yand 84 are 7 correlated to a predetermined angular portion of a complete rotation of the indexing cam 72.

The inner ends of the wide straight walled portions 84 of the respective grooves are interconnected to the inner ends of the narrow straight walled portions 83 thereof by funnel-like portions 85, 85a, 85b and 85C reading from left to right of Fig. 42 and the lengths of said funnel-like portions are correlated to a predetermined angular portion of `a complete rotation of the indexing cam 72.

The funnel-like portion 85 of the most left-hand groove as viewed in Fig. 42 has on its left side a straight wall and on its right side `an inclined wall 86. The funnel-like portion 85a of the adjacent cam groove is provided on its left and right-hand sides, respectively, with inclined walls 87 and 87a while the portion 8511 of the next cam groove toward the right has on its left and right-hand sides, respectively, inclined side walls 8S and 88a. The funnel-like portion 85C of the most righthand cam groove as viewed in Fig. 42 has a straight right right-hand side Wall and an inclined left-hand side wall 89. The purpose of the inclined side walls S6, 87, 87a, 88, 88a, and 89 of the funnel-like portions 85, 85a, 85b and 85C of the cam grooves in the indexing cam 72 will be pointed out hereinafter as will also the relative lengths of said inclined walls.

The housing for the indexer I slidably mounts an indexer bar 90 alongside the shaft 71 and parallel thereto but spaced therefrom. The indexer bar as shown herein is square or rectangular in cross section but it could be circular or of other shape and is slidably supported in suitable bearing bushings carried by the housing of the indexer I and located adjacent the opposite ends of the indexer bar.

At the right-hand side of the indexer housing as viewed in Figs. 7 or 42 the indexer bar projects outwardly of the housing for a purpose later to be explained. The indexer bar 9i) mounts for horizontal sliding movement therethrough in opposite directions a multiplicity of cam follower pins spaced longitudinally of the indexer bar 90 and in Figs. 7 and 42 indicated by the reference numerals 91, 92, 93 and 94 reading from left to right.

Each of the cam follower pins laterally and outwardly of the indexer bar 90 mounts a coil spring 95, one end of which engages the indexer bar and the other end of which engages a collar on the outer end of the pin. These springs 95 normally maintain the pins in retracted position wherein their inner ends adjacent to the indexing cam 72 are flush with the surface of the indexer bar 90 and are inactive with respect to the indexing cam. The cam follower pins 91, 92, 93 and 94 have their outer ends that are remote to the indexing cam 72 engaging the enlarged heads on the inner ends of slidable plungers 96 that `are carried by and project outwardly of the indexer housing I. The side of the indexer housing l is provided with a pair of vertically spaced parallel elongated supporting flanges or bosses 97 which mount therebetween four vertically extending supporting rods 98 spaced apart from left to right of the indexer housing as viewed in Fig. 7.

The supporting rods 98 rockably mount between the flanges 97 elongated vertically extending sleeves 99 which have adjacent their upper ends integral radially projecting arms 100 and adjacent their lower ends integral laterally projecting arms 101. The arms 101 extend past the outer ends of the plungers 96 and are provided with adjustable contact pins 102 that engage the outer ends of the plungers 96.

It will be seen that when the arms 100 of the sleeves 99 are moved in one direction i.e., a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7, the adjustable contact pins 102 will push the plungers 96 inwardly of the housing with a resultant inward movement of the cam follower e pins 91, 92, 93 and 94 against the action of the springs During the operation of the weaving machine the arms will be selectively moved at predetermined times to elect selective movement of the plungers 96 and of the cam follower pins 91, 92, 93 and 94 inwardly against the action of the springs 95. The mechanism for so selectively moving the .arms 100 of the sleeves 99 will be described hereinafter.

The selective inward movement of the cam follower pins 91, 92, 93 and 94, as just referred to, functions during the operation of the machine to effect selective longitudinal indexing of the indexer bar 90 one, two or three steps to the right or to the left to any one of four indexed positions. The wide portions 84 of the cam grooves on the periphery of the indexing cam '72 are of such width that the inner ends of the cam follower pins 91, 92, 93 and 94 will always be located, regardless of the previous indexed position of the indexer bar 90, to enter such wide portions 84 of the cam grooves as the indexing cam revolves if projected inwardly against the action of the springs 95.

The inclined wall 86 of the most left-hand groove in the indexing cam 72 when engaged for its entire length by the inner end of the cam follower pin 91 during rotation of the indexing cam will effect maximum three step to the left longitudinal indexing movement of the indexer bar 90. When the inclined wall 86 is engaged by the inner end of the cam follower pin 91 for only two-thirds of Iits length it will effect two step to the left longitudinal indexing movement of the indexer bar 90. When the inclined wall 86 is engaged by the inner end of the cam follower pin 91 for only the last third of its length it will effect one step to the left longitudinal indexing movement of the indexer bar 90.

The engagement of the inclined Wall 87 of the second from the left groove in the indexing cam 72 by the inner end of the cam follower pin 92 will effect one step to the right longitudinal indexing movement of the indexer bar 90. The inclined wall 87a of this groove when engaged by the inner end of the pin 92 for its entire length will effect longitudinal indexing two steps to the left and when engaged by the inner end of the pin 92 for the last half of its length will effect one step indexing to the left.

When the inner end of the cam follower pin 93 engages the inclined wall 88 of the second from the right cam groove -in the indexing cam 72 it will etfect right-hand indexing of the indexer bar 90 two steps if the engagement is throughout the full length of the wall 38 and one step if the engagement occurs only during the last half of the length of the Wall 88. When the inner end of the indexing pin 93 engages the inclined wall 88a of this groove it will eect one step indexing movement toward the left.

When the inner end of the 1cam follower pin 94 engages the inclined wall 39 of the most right-hand groove in the indexing cam 72 and for the full length of said wall three step right-hand indexing movement will be imparted to the indexer bar 90. When the inner end of the pin 94 engages the wall 89 for only the last two-thirds of its length a two step right-hand indexing movement of the bar 90 `will result and if such engagement is only for the last third of the length of the Wall S9 then one step righthand indexing movement will occur.

It will be understood that the cam grooves in the indexing cam 72 only extend partially around the periphery of the indexing cam and that the period in which the inner ends of the cam follower pins are selectively in engagement with the inclined walls of the funnel-like portions of the cam grooves represents only a portion of a complete revolution of the indexing cam and this portion 'constitutes the indexing portion of each complete revolution of the indexing cam.

It will be understood that when the inner ends of the 

